can john boehner, do you think john boehner can corral or quiet the more radical elements of the republican party to come to the table with the president to make a grand deal in some form or fashion? >> ultimately, yes. i think those are the starting negotiating positions which are understandable. you have obama 250, you have republicans at least admitting there needs to be new revenue and want to go through the loopholes first and see where they can get revenue there. that's obviously not going to be enough. some point they're going to have to give on it. it may be ultimately that we have a situation where they -- the tax cut dozen expire. we go off the cliff for 24 hours but that offers the republicans an opportunity to come back and vote for a tax cut for those under 250 rather than increase through extension. that's an outcome that's possible. >> i'm curious about the notion the republicans can save face if we go over the fiscal cliff although lately people have been calling it the fiscal curb, it's unclear how much of a steep drop it is in the first 24 hours. can republicans, if the pr